The Reforming Monastic Orders
At a time when many priests and
preachers seemed to be interested only in money and power, the various ‘orders’ of monks
were virtually the only examples of Christian faith and life. For that reason these orders, and
individuals in them, had tremendous influence in society.
William of Champeaux, founded
the Canons Regular of St. Victor in 1113 - it was a reforming movement, but these were not monks,
separated from the world, but “ordinary” priests who voluntarily took up the monkish
life style
Norbert of Xanten - after almost
being hit by a bolt of lightning, this very worldly priest became a reformer - he founded an order
headquartered at Premontre in France, and this became the Premonstratensian Order -
the main thing that strikes one about this order was that they emphasized complete silence,
all the time
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